Renewable Fuel Standards

Current federal and state renewable fuel standard (RFS) and biofuel requirements include a number of various ethanol and biodiesel mandates.

The Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) became law in December 2007. Among its many provisions, EISA increases the mandated nationwide use of biofuels to 36 billion gallons in 2022, and establishes an "advanced biofuel" subset of the RFS beginning in 2009 that includes mandates for the use of cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and other nonconventional biofuels.

Ethanol is currently used in over 90 percent of U.S. gasoline, and AFPM recognizes that biofuels will continue to be a strong and growing component of the nation’s transportation fuel mix.

AFPM opposes the mandated use of alternative fuels and supports the sensible and workable integration of alternative fuels into the marketplace based on market principles. Energy policy based on mandates is not a recipe for success. There is no free market if every gallon of biofuels – including those that do not exist – is mandated. Mandates distort markets and result in stifled competition and innovation.

AFPM's members are dedicated to working cooperatively with government at all levels in implementing the current Renewable Fuel Standard to the extent possible. However, AFPM advocates an RFS program that is understandable, allows unambiguous enforcement, promotes adequate flexibility for refiners and gasoline/diesel importers, and is developed with a full realization of its impact on energy supplies and potential unintended negative environmental and economic consequences.

AFPM further believes that regulations should not be structured in a manner that would alter the current transportation fuels supply, distribution or infrastructure system.